Midfielders Luke Parker and Brett Meredith have been recalled to the Swans line-up to take on Geelong this Saturday at Skilled Stadium.
Parker and Meredith will replace co-captain Jarrad McVeigh, and Lewis Jetta, who will line-up with the Swans Reserves in Canberra on Saturday.
Parker and Meredith will replace co-captain Jarrad McVeigh, and Lewis Jetta, who will line-up with the Swans Reserves in Canberra on Saturday.
Parker has played nine matches in his debut season and was unlucky not to gain a place in last Sunday’s win over St Kilda, where he was the first emergency.
Coach John Longmire said Parker’s strength around the contest would be valuable against the Cats.
“It’s unusual when you’re keen to get an 18 year old kid into the team for the big bodies against Geelong. But we were keen for him to come back in because he is a strong bodied player even though he is only young,” Longmire said.
“He enjoys the contest, he relishes it and he gets his chance again this weekend which is great.”
Meredith was subbed out of the match against Richmond a fortnight ago at the MCG, but returns after a strong showing in the Reserves last weekend, where he booted five goals from the midfield.
Matt Spangher and young defender Alex Johnson both proved their fitness at today’s training session and will also play against the Cats on Saturday.
“Alex has had a couple of little niggles as sometimes happens towards the end of the year,” Longmire said. “He is having a great year as an 18 year old kid playing a lot of games of footy and playing big roles.”
“We lightened his week off and he was able to train fully today, so that was a really good sign for him.”
Geelong has not lost a game at its home ground since 2007, but Longmire said he was looking forward to facing what was one of football’s toughest tests.
“We go down there confident this week that we were able to bring our strong defensive game to the table last week, and our challenge is to do that again against Geelong, at Geelong, and that’s a challenge we’re looking forward to,” he said.
Tall forward Jesse White will notch up his 50th game for the Swans on Saturday after coming to the club as the number 79 draft pick in the 2006 AFL Draft.
The team to face Geelong on Saturday is:
B: R.Shaw, T.Richards, A.Johnson
HB: M.Mattner, H.Grundy, N.Smith
C: J.Kennedy, A.Goodes, C.Bird
HF: R.O'Keefe, J.White, M.Spangher
F: D.Hannebery, S.Reid, B.McGlynn
Foll: S.Mumford, J.Bolton, K.Jack
I/C: N.Malceski, B.Meredith, L.Parker, G.Rohan
Emg: N.Gordon, L.Jetta, T.Kennelly
In: B.Meredith , L.Parker
Out: J.McVeigh (personal), L.Jetta
Milestone: J.White - 50 games
